City candidates quizzed about dog breed ban

Published: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 08:23 PM.

PANAMA CITY — Three candidates for Panama City Commission were open Wednesday to taking action to protect the public from dangerous dogs.

But while the incumbent would consider a ban of certain breeds if warranted, the two challengers favored making that decision on a dog-by-dog basis.

Candidates for the Panama City Ward 4 seat — incumbent Mike Nichols and challengers Les Nelson and Capt. James Pic — answered rounds of questions Wednesday afternoon in the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club before Kiwanis Club members and visitors moved to the topic a breed ban. The questions came just three days after a Callaway child died from injuries sustained when he was attacked by two dogs.

“This is not the first instance of someone being attacked by breeds along that line,” Nichols said. “So if it is a nuisance I would support that … that is a tragedy and we want to make sure we do not let that happen again.”

Tyler Jett, 7, died Sunday after being mauled by an Alapaha blue blood bulldog and a brindle bulldog. The dogs escaped from their owner Edward Daniel Jr.’s home before attacking Tyler in the front yard of his Callaway home.

But Pic said there is no such thing as a bad dog, just bad owners.

“You can’t say a breed of dog is a bad dog, because there’re just as many … that are good dogs as there are bad dogs,” Pic said. “I would be against banning any dog from the area unless he was a nuisance.”

PANAMA CITY — Three candidates for Panama City Commission were open Wednesday to taking action to protect the public from dangerous dogs.

But while the incumbent would consider a ban of certain breeds if warranted, the two challengers favored making that decision on a dog-by-dog basis.

Candidates for the Panama City Ward 4 seat — incumbent Mike Nichols and challengers Les Nelson and Capt. James Pic — answered rounds of questions Wednesday afternoon in the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club before Kiwanis Club members and visitors moved to the topic a breed ban. The questions came just three days after a Callaway child died from injuries sustained when he was attacked by two dogs.

“This is not the first instance of someone being attacked by breeds along that line,” Nichols said. “So if it is a nuisance I would support that … that is a tragedy and we want to make sure we do not let that happen again.”

Tyler Jett, 7, died Sunday after being mauled by an Alapaha blue blood bulldog and a brindle bulldog. The dogs escaped from their owner Edward Daniel Jr.’s home before attacking Tyler in the front yard of his Callaway home.

But Pic said there is no such thing as a bad dog, just bad owners.

“You can’t say a breed of dog is a bad dog, because there’re just as many … that are good dogs as there are bad dogs,” Pic said. “I would be against banning any dog from the area unless he was a nuisance.”

Nelson agreed with Pic’s sentiment, with a caveat.

“But some dogs are bred for fighting, and maybe they need to be in a certain area,” Nelson said. “We need to keep the vicious dogs either chained up or double fenced.”

Other questions fielded to the candidates involved distinctions between plans to improve the community.

Pic said he would focus on making St. Andrews more business friendly.

“I believe that government is the last place you go,” Pic said. “Business owners and people in the community can do just as good of a job putting money into the economy.”

Nelson said he was concerned with the interior of the ward.

“No matter what happens in this election you will see me with volunteer groups helping out,” Nelson said.

Nichols said his approach would be a catch-all approach.

“It’s not just government; it’s the community as a whole, and government is part of that,” Nichols said. “We all want to work together to make a difference.”

GOING TO THE POLLS

Early voting began Monday and continues through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Supervisor of Elections Office, 830 W. 11th St. in Panama City. Election day is Tuesday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

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